Matchless! Designers inspire Michelin star restaurant – Toikka & Aarnio at Chez Dominique this summer!
This summer top chef Hans Välimäki’s restaurant Chez Dominique has decided to keep its doors open throughout the summer, something that happens only at rare occasions. Besides embellishing Helsinki’s gastonomical summer, it also offer a true summery surprise: Finnish design shine in the restaurant both on the plates and in the interior!
Photo: Elisabeth Heinrichs
Hans Välimäki’s tribute to the design capital shows in this concrete co-operation that can be experienced by all living and staying in Helsinki.
Photo: Elisabeth Heinrichs
Legendary Oiva Toikka and Eero Aarnio have been in on shaping the restaurant milieu, but also the summer menu. Oiva Toikka is known as a ceramist and glass designer whereas Eero Aarnio is more noted for his furniture and interior design.
Photo: Elisabeth Heinrichs
The art work (lamps, glasses, glass birds and glass sculptures) are on display naturally inside the restaurant, but interesting enough they also delight by-passers since they decorate the large windows facing the street.
Photo: Elisabeth Heinrichs
One can also merely pop in at Toikka’s and Aarnio’s summer show: summertime Dominique’s bar offers glasses of bubbly (starting from €10), and while enjoying them one just has to try Aarnio’s unique Ball Chair in the hall!
Photo: Elisabeth Heinrichs
“I’m not aware of any Michelin-‐starred restaurant in the world that has done anything similar. For me personally, it has been a pleasure and an honour to work simultaneously with these two maestros whom I’ve always admired”, says Välimäki.
Photo: Elisabeth Heinrichs
Inspired by the designers, the menu carries summery dishes like Toikka’s ”Fish on the beach” and Aarnio’s ‘särä’ lamb bake. A fun detail is that the menu tells who has inspired each dish.
Photo: Elisabeth Heinrichs
The summer menu consists of two alternatives: the four-course-”July” or the all-evening ”Long Summer”. The menu prices vary between €89/person and €129/person.
Toikka’s and Aarnio’s Chez Dominique can be experienced until the beginning of September.
Did you try the Ball Chair already?
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Chez Dominique opening hours in the summer:
26 June to 14 August 2012: Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm to 11pm
15 August 2012 (regular opening hours resume): Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm to 12pm and Wednesday to Friday from 11:30am to 2pm and Saturday from noon to 3pm
When the summer is over, will Toikka take his birds and Aarnio his chair, & both go home? At these prices….even they cannot afford to eat there more than ONCE!!
You have to ask them that!
As mentioned in the blog post, one can enjoy a glass of bubbly in the bar or the art work in the windows if one thinks that the menu prices are too high for one’s budget. Helsinki is nevertheless the least expensive Nordic capital, and we’re proud of that!
- The Visit Helsinki Team -